Sharing the island of Hispanoila with the Dominican Republic, Haiti lives up to is Tainos name, Ayiti, which means “mountainous land.”
Like the other Caribbean islands, Haiti was discovered by the Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus on his voyage to the Americas. Also, like the other Caribbean islands, Haiti had its share of slavery, rebellions and finally, freedom. Modern day Haiti is poverty-stricken, and has fallen victim to urban overpopulation. Though there is unrest in the country, Haiti’s culture remains vibrant with colorful art, sensational music, beautiful nature retreats and passionate people.
As typical in the Caribbean islands, Haiti enjoys a mild tropical climate with only two seasons throughout the year. Haiti, however, has two rainy seasons: from April to May and from September to October. June to September is the hurricane season in the region, though hurricanes don’t last the entire 5 months, it’s up to you if you want to risk vacationing in Haiti during this time.
When it rain, it pours - heavily into the mountainous regions. If trekking or hiking is in your itinerary while in Haiti, it’s best to avoid going during the months where there is heavy rains expected. It seems like it’s always summer in Haiti, with average temperatures only ranges between 85F (34C) to 95F (30C) year round. When everybody else is flocking to the other Caribbean islands during the winter, Haiti is your best alternative.
Visit Haiti during the Carnival if you like to party. Carnival is held during the Lenten season (March/April), usually three days before Ash Wednesday. Due to the volatile nature of the country, avoid traveling on the weeks leading up to the election.
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